The ocean is filled with many amazing and dangerous wonders and for the few tasked with its protection and exploration, anything can with in the next half-hour. For the brave Men and Women of W.A.S.P. protecting the oceans is there calling. Here is there iconic patrol craft Stingray preform emergency manoeuvres should the worst ever befall them. Enjoy!
Chapter 19: Keep your head up (keep your heart strong)
Archive of our own link
We are so close to the end i am mentally nawring on door frames
xxxxx
There was more doctorly discussions. Marina was sat up and awake for a little longer. Another torch light shone in her eyes and much examination was done but then nothing of note.
Marina supposed the Doc left some point after that. She vaguely registered shore going out of the room with him. She remembered with very little resistance, being encouraged to rest again.
Marina laid down as asked. and her feet up across Phones' lap as she Slipped into a dull meditation, not yet asleep again. The world was still in soft focus. But her mind quietened for a little while. Not too dissimilar to the way it had the long time ago; in the tower after the first exchange with the Doc.
Although it was rather maddening; still muddling between sleep and awake. But Marina found she didn't even have the energy to be frustrated by that now.
She seemed to float there. Sometimes she was sat up again, others not.
Marina's not sure if she faced up to the sky or down into the sea. Just endless green water. Or a blank 'Some where else'
Sometimes she heard talking, the hum of Stingray’s motors, or the television. There was an occasional hand on hers. or her arm or forehead. and for a while Marina felt at peace almost, finally.
But then of course she can't be.
One moment she'd been floating on dark green waves just under the surface. The next something grabs her from behind and drags Marina back across sandy tiled floors. Panic knocked breath and water knocked from her. and Marina was tossed from Elysium into a nightmare. A real one, this One Crystal clear. grounded in fact and the did happen.
Those dreams, the other's, had felt distorted and too bright and blurred. And real but not quite. In hindsight she’d While very aware she is dreaming Nightmare.
As re-lived it, second for second. Marina's blood was prickling and freezing and she felt like she had (pink)ice in her veins, knowing how this ended. But further and on she pushed.
How long had she been swimming? not long. Maybe ninety minutes of terrain time perhaps.
Marina was in the water. Specifically the Pacific ocean approximately fifteen miles from the beach and very deep down swimming as fast as she could. adrenaline kept her going. even with her Chest burning from the effort.
Although it feels barely miles from the coast? which had taken her an age to get to on foot.
Four hours. That was all. The doctor had said. Who knows if Troy actually had that long!
and Three hours to get back to Titanica was the bargain. if she could make it. Then that left an hour for Titan to save Troy with the antidote he said he had. if he did have it... Even with the current in her favour and swimming as fast as she could. It would be very tight for time.
"I should have stolen a sub." Marina cursed. "or at least a buggy! I can't- no I can do this. I must."
Could she flag down a passing ship? Any ship. she'll never make it. and if she didn’t make it? Troy wouldn't make it- no no she has to. She can't possibly face Titan can she? she had too.
"I have to." Marina tells herself. “Troy has to live. I have to make it. Troy has to live. I have to make it. Troy has to live. I have to make it. Troy has to live. I have to make it. Troy has to live. I have to-!"
That Marta dies in fright, something startles Marina just ahead of her. As the silt parted, it revealed a Terror-fish, Rearing up from the rocks and weed. Once free it turned and almost lazily swam at her, gaining on her easily.
Marina screamed. in fear. in horror. in hopelessness. In anger. both in her head and in bubbles. at Realisation they'd been waiting for her. How dare they!
They knew she’d come; Titan knew she'd be here. He had somehow known she'd disobey the Commander and slip away to offer herself up in surrender.
Marina had little time to think. She was in too much open water to hide or duck into a rock crevice. She tried to zigzag, and dive downwards to the seabed. But the TerrorFish Barrelled on regardless. And Marina was unable to get out of the way in time. She felt the drag and pull, the water sucking her in. Unable to swim forward Marina was sucked into the swell. All she could do was curl up tight on herself, protecting her head as the fish scooped her up in its metal mouth, swallowing her up.
Up the submarine rose mouth still open; and Marina Tumbled about the missile launcher and bounced down Into the pitch black belly of the beast. Marina was Flung sideways into a water filter, a second trap gate snapping shut behind her. The water stopped flowing as the mouth shut too, and the rest drained out of the unconventional air lock. A panel above her head slid back, revealing the control room above her through a grate. Marina shielded her eyes, two aquaphibians stared down at her for a second silhouetted against the cabin lights, one still at the controls. Then with a grunt both turn back to the port holes.
She lay there, a dizzy wet and winded heap for a second. Marina knew that prisoners caught in this fashion were normally hauled out and tied up. But this time she was kept caged up, boxed up in a space that she could not sit up in nor properly uncurl without an awful lot of wriggling.
Marina then hammered on and kicked at the grate, trying to make as much noise as possible.
"Titan has me. Tell him. He can't let Troy die!" she demanded. "Radio him, King Titan must uphold his promise-!"
whether they understood or not she didn’t know. for the most part they ignored her. bar to occasionally stamp on the grate and babel at her to quieten down. In turn Marina ignored their words and carried on kicking and banging and making herself a nuisance for them. Even as her hands became sore from slapping.
the larger one eventually lost patience. with a roar it disappeared from view a second then startling Marina he Jabbed the barrel of his rifle in the gap.
"Wretch! settle down or lose a flipper!"
Marina flinched. but then reasoned even an aquaphibian wouldn’t be so stupid to shoot down inside of their fragile subs. She stared him down, despite the fear she felt. And gave the grate a defiant two handed slap. The aquaphibian roared and pounded the grate several times with his foot, then stormed off bubbling and spitting like an over boiling pan. the other aquaphibian scowled down at Marina. And after a kick of his own far then more eloquently, (if possible for their kind) growled at her,
"Mighty Titan wants you alive, Slave. That is deal do not forget. Or Tempest will die.”
And then at a press of a webbed finger, the panel slid back closed. And the ship rocked in what felt like a deliberative lurch throwing Marina back and forth stuck in the cold and now dark metal box. There was a groan of metal and a shudder of the tail. The Terror-fish picked up speed and dived deep to the ocean.
Marina sat there frozen for a time, silently yelled and cried till her mind gave out and she felt she couldn’t possibly have any more tears left.
For ages she lay there, thinking. The bargain had really some big elaborate trap, She realised. Hurting Troy was just an added bonus. Or was she now the bait?
She slammed her hands at the trapdoor above her head in frustration; and started back up her earlier annoyance of banging, kicking, and calling out. But save for their earlier outburst the Aquaphibans now left her alone. until, exhausted and limbs cramping from both her swim and confinement; marina was forced to give up, and try to conserve her little remaining energy for what might come next.
All too soon and ages later Marina felt as the ship Levelled out and banked. And knew they'd hit the dreaded familiar approach into Titanic’s dark waters and the landing stations. heard the Aquaphibains ask for permission to enter the city. Marina dreaded what would happen when they with their prize got there.
there was a stomp of feet and hurrying about above her. Finally the trap door opened. Marina was Dazzled by the sudden light. the aquaphibians baring down on her. one with net and rope, the other had a gun trained on her; Demanding she come quietly and behave. reluctantly she did as bid.
but as she struggled to stand the world turned sideways.
"Marina? sorry I didn't mean to wake you."
The net was thrown over her, jolting her awake even as her hands were tied behind her back. But no. her hands, they were in front of her. loose. and she wasn't upright. nor had she fallen back.
silhouetted against the bright cabin light- no- silhouetted against the dim lamp
Troy was leaning over her. Atlanta hovering at his shoulder. no not them. four horned crested green hung back but still appeared in Marina's vision.
The net was around her middle leaving her arms free, though her legs tangled in something.
"Ah shoot. Is she having a nightmare or panicking?" someone asked. At least, that's what Marina thought was said.
she was in deed Panicked she realised. hearts racing, breathing coming in rapid. but even as Marina told herself to calm down she just wanted to run away.
"starting to panic. I think I woke her up from a nightmare." Troy tossed over his shoulder, not taking his eyes off her.
"Troy, shh she can hear you." Atlanta reached past him, gently brushing her finger through Marina's fringe moving Marina's hair out of her face again like it was becoming a habit too.
"Marina Honey it's alright. Was it another bad dream?" she soothed. "There there, its alright."
"Yeah Marina? Nothing can harm you?" Troy agreed quietly. He must have squatted or knelt down cos he was then much closer. He said something else too. but it was lost to the aquaphibian's bubbling. Behind them, the guards had been there. and still loomed but in fragments. Guns drawn like the two that had fallen in the shoot out. too real to be a dream. And then there would be smoke. Or blue liquid.
They had to get away. Titan's guppy got hold of him and Atlanta, they wouldn’t hesitate to harm them. Especially Troy. They’d poison Troy again. They’d poisoned Troy. She couldn't let it happen. or happen a second time.
"Don't just stand there-! run, swim away! Please-!"
Marina pushed Troy back out of the way. But it was weak. He moved with it instead and held her hand.
"Breath, Marina it's us. it’s me, Troy.” he said, unaware of the danger they were in. “Just another bad dream. Easy! Settle down?”
"No! move!"
This is really real. She had felt the fabric of his shirt under her fingers. not his uniform-? but if he was real then so were the aquaphibians. so was Titan, he would laugh as she was about to be dragged to him.
“Please Marina. go back to sleep. Shh.” Atlanta agreed. Marina struggled caught between fighting and running as Troy squeezed her hand in both his now, Atlanta pulled the net over her-
Not a net.
It was soft.
“Another blanket?” she realised. Marina felt it under her fingers of her other hand. And Blinked. Hard.
Marina was on her back. But it was not a cold floor beneath her. Or water. And there were none of Titan's guards around her.
Marina swallowed. Then breathing in, she tried to relax her body. Hold the air in her lungs; the above surface air. Then breathe out. Marina pulled away her hand from Troy’s, rubbing her eyes trying to get rid of the blurry itchy feeling.
"Hey, no ease there. Not so hard. Mind your bruises." Troy said. Marina frowned. She pushed herself up onto her elbows blinked up at them trying to focus on them. Atlanta blinked back in surprise.
"Oh. Marina?"
"Hey?" Troy said again. He waved a hand in front of her.
Marina Flinched hard, as if he had moved to strike her. Then felt embarrassed for doing so. Troy looked equally surprised and apologised he didn’t mean to scare her.
"Wait, Is she awake? Like properly?"
Marina turned her head to the new voice. Phones was getting up from the table in the other 'half' of the lounge; the four of them had been playing cards by the look of it, but had abandoned the game.
“I think so? She’s more responsive!" Troy beamed.
This was a very large apartment. Much bigger than her own. Marina felt a little disorientated, not sure where she was. She took another deep breath and look around confused. She tried to sit up properly, but the fabric was slippery, and her legs were still up caught on the sheets wrapped around her.
"Marina? oh, you want to get up?" Three pairs of hands helped her sit up. And even plumped up the pillows for her.
"Easy does it."
"There we go."
"That’s really good. But nice slow breaths yeah?"
Marina nodded, and tried to convince herself, "No need to panic. Slow. If Troy's okay-?"
"Oh Marina you’re shivering? Are you cold?" Atlanta asked.
Marina shook her head. She felt odd and off but not the temperature.
“Can I-?”
Marina nodded. She sat still at the back of Atlanta’s hand to her forehead, Marina watching cautiously for any frown or worry on her face.
"You’re a little cool. But that’s a better temperature for you, isn't it?” Atlanta puzzled. “Maybe that fever's broken, or breaking at least?"
The fellas looked so cheered by this that Marina wondered, and worried, was she seeing things. “what if this was the dream?”
"I think it's worn off whatever it was. At least for now?"
"She’s had about two hours solid sleep at least?"
"Yeah, I think you’re right. Marina?"
Head still thick feeling, Marina looked up at her name.
"Welcome back." Troy grinned at her taking the seat next to her. Marina tried a smile back. And shifted around, tossing her legs over the edge of the couch to sit properly.
"Thats definitely an improvement," Atlanta agreed happily, with only very light teasing.
"Well hi there sleepy head." Phones said. "Good to have you with us again."
"Don't crowd her." The commander complained, his chair whirring.
All four of them, while not really rebuked, still jumped to attention. and the other three shuffled to give Marina more space and let the Commander come around the coffee table to see for himself. Marina meanwhile was trying to work out what had gone on. Why would she be in Commander Shore and Atlanta's home?
"You seem confused. You know where you are, kid? That you’re back in Marineville?" he asked gruffly.
Marina Paused. and Nodded.
"Not a dream then I suppose. And what does Commander mean ‘kid’? That’s new."
"Guess she was back in Titanica for a minute there huh?" Troy asked, patting her arm. “Even if it was just a nightmare.”
Marina flinched involuntarily at the name. as well as being seized by a Sudden chest contrition. but this time it eased as swift as it came.
"not yet in but close enough." She thought, relieved it hadn't been real a second time. only another memory getting caught up in her dreams. "Not real. This is."
Troy at least instantly realised he'd accidentality put his foot in it. for the second time in as many minutes.
“Oops I'm real sorry Marin-HEY! What was that for?!”
'Sorry' Didn't save him from getting a cuff upside the head from Phones. And the flurry of verbal blows from his friends and commander.
"oh, Troy, really!"
"Don't mention you-know-what, brother!"
"Tempest you clutz! Wattdya' say that for?!”
"Father don't call Troy names-!" Atlanta scolded one hand on her hip, the other on Marina's shoulder. Marian was glad for it, not liking the raised voices right now even in jest. It gave her some comfort and leaned into the touch.
“Well he is. Make yourself useful and get the young lady another drink.” The commander snapped rounding on Troy. “And a straw!"
Troy hopped to it, unusually meek. Phones took Troy's place on the couch, very carefully so as not to startle her. Commander Shore bickered with Atlanta but did apologies for raising his voice again. Marina, still taking deep slow breaths, tried to stitch together the loose threads of the day.
She remembers leaving the city. the trick fish and the guns. Smoke, other Wasp ships and the submarine fight. And then...
It was dark outside. Really dark even. The clock on the wall read very very late for a gathering. They sat on the big blue sofa. the one where Marina's feet didn't touch the floor; cushions and pillows packed around her like a nest with more on the floor next to her. The blanket pooled in her lap wasn’t like the tinfoil one or the scratchy brown lounge one. It was the softer patchwork quilt of red and baby pinks that was normally on the foot of Atlanta’s bed.
There were drinks and paper and cards cluttered around. Phones and the commander had sat around the round corner table before. Although the open kitchen light blaze, the big central lights of the lounge were either off or dimmed relying on the light of the lamps scattered around.
"Surly the humans would struggle to see in this? Certainly to read the papers or play cards?" Marina thought. Her own eyes were still heavy; but no longer so much so that she was fighting to keep them open? Her hand went up to rub her eyes again. And to feel her face. A plaster had been stuck over one on her cheek. And another on the one redressed the cut on her arm.
"Marina?"
"Pardon?" Marina looked up, "Sorry, I missed that."
She was still confused. Hadn't they said something about the hospital? And not there, why here? Why not her own apartment...?
"I said," You're staying with us tonight Marina. The team brought you here from the tower? You remember?"
Marina did not. Not entirely.
"That had already been agreed, but then Doc said not to leave on your own till you slept and woke up properly." The Commander explained; very gentle for him, as though reading Marina's mind like her own father might have. Or more likely the confusion on her face.
They’d brought her here from the tower?
But then bits and pieces fell into place. Rather than her smaller house, Fisher had brought her to the Shores. They'd piled in his car. Troy had carried her out of the tower and partially into the house. With help she'd washed her face and gotten dressed. And she slept a little while in Atlanta’s room. That's why everything had been odd when she'd been awake, she had been expecting her own chambers? Or her cell…The rest of it was a bit of a smudge.
"I'll have to head off back in a while," Shore continued, gesturing to her friends. "But Atlanta will be staying here with you, won't you sweetheart?"
"Try and stop me, sir."
"I wouldn’t dare." The Commander sniffed, then turned back to Marina.
"Fisher said he hopes you’re doing better too. And I doubt either these two knuckle heads will be persuaded to leave anytime soon either."
"Knuckle heads? Charming." Phones chuckled quietly. If it was heard by Shore it was ignored. But Marina spared him a little smile.
"We've a spare bed made up for you, Marina. Or you can take mine again. It was just easier to keep an eye on you out here?” Atlanta reassured sitting down next to her arm slipping around hers and spilling her hand over hers. Marina nodded squeezing her hand. Atlanta's own relief and she was talking very fast. "we didn’t want to leave you on your own or have you rolling out of bed again.”
“Plus you seemed pretty adamant you didn’t want to be alone either. I get that.” Phones said it easily. But there was that funny soft edge of worry on his face. Marina signed her thanks. She hated being the one to worry her friends. But it was nice to be so cared for.
“I'm afraid we will have to get you checked up at the hospital,” Commander Shore said. Marina tensed. “Yeah yeah, I know. But that can wait till morning. Or the day after.”
"Yes, you just relax for now, Marina." Atlanta agreed. "How are you holding up?”
"Yeah, are you feeling any better?" Phones said.
"How's the headache?" Troy asked, reappearing and presenting her with a glass of water plus straw as ordered. Marina took it gratefully, feeling suddenly parched. “Do you need anything?”
"Quit bugging her with questions!” the Commander snapped at them. and then turned back to Marina "...but, yeah. Are you feeling any better, Marina? Don't drink it so fast, you'll make yourself sick."
Marina paused sipping. Then nodded slowly and gave one tap on the glass of yes. Yes, she did feel better actually. Calmer too, even. Still groggy despite clearly sleeping. Still battered and bruised. But not broken. There wasn’t a tiredness or ache as deep set in her bones. No longer shadows at her shoulder, hanging over her or pressing down on her.
"Better I think. But very delicate.. Oh. How do I say that?" Marina raked her still rather fuzzy mind over a way that would explain herself.
And for some reason came upon Dive signals. Sort of. It wasn't a proper sign. Just something Fisher had taught her ages ago as a joke. Marina set her glass down. Holding her hands up Marina gave a three quarters thumbs up. then made a fist with one hand. and with her other hand showed them three fingers sprayed to make a rough ‘W’. It seemed appropriate.
Phones snorted. Both the Shores looked like they weren't sure they'd heard her right; with the Commander even doubly checking.
Greetings to my fellow Thunderbird writers!!! Especially Scott whump ones... this came to me over the weekend... treat it as a prompt... let me see what you can come up with!!!!! No word limit. Only rule... Scott must survive! Let those creative juices flow!!!!! Good luck!
It's (finally!) time for more Tracy Island comics! ✨🏝️✨
In which Gordon tries to walk it off after another bone-shattering rescue stunt (which looked cool as hell!) but Field Nurse Virgil is NOT having it. His personal private hospital ward isn't officially baby jail, but those sheets are tucked so tight Gordon's going nowhere! >:|
And iR's social media rakes in those thirst clicks, but it's ALWAYS just the boys doing some wild frat bro challenge on a day off - like cramming Gordon down the laundry chute to test Lady Penelope's high-end, totally-not-designed-for-espionage skincare products. At least he and Alan can pop out of Grandma's grip like greased weasels while their big brothers face consequences! :D
in light of a couple posts I've seen circulating recently, I would just like to say:
I do not like generative AI. I do not support gen AI. If I see it I will not engage with the post itself, nor (depending on circumstances ofc, because i too have sadly been tricked by AI before) will i want to engage as much with that blog any more. If someone is actively supporting and using AI honestly I don't want to interact, because I don't want to see that.
If you are an AI user and you have no idea why I don't like it, genuinely, please do reach out, because I have a lot of reasons! it's something I believe Should be talked about. but anyway - I don't like AI, I don't engage with AI, and if you keep posting and generating AI images/video there's a strong possibility I'll just outright unfollow and maybe even block you.
